I will be purchasing and towing back to Texas a 74 coupe on a u-haul trailer.

Just curious if there is enough clearance to get it on the trailer or will I need boards?

Image test... Trying from my phone + photobucket

 

Image seemed to work

 

Not to overstate the obvious, but take the boards. If you don't need them, no harm done. If you need them and don't have them, you're hurt.

 

Put the 2" thick boards on the top of the ramp where it connects to the trailer, and the 1" boards at the end or the trailer where the ramp connects. The least ground clearance is when the front wheels have just crested the ramp and are on the trailer bed.

 

I agree with Easy Mike on this. I used a u haul trailer with no problem but there was very little clearance with my car. Not all cars sit the same height do to old springs. Have fun taking it home to Dallas.
Good luck
Larry

 

Tip:
When loading the car, try and have the trailer axles in a dip or low spot in the area your loading in. Try and make the ramp/loading deck transition as level as possible.

Put something under the outside rear corners of the trailer when loading. As you drive up you'll be putting a surprisingly large amount of UPWARDS force on the hitch ball and only a small piece of light metal holding the trailer on the ball. You dont want to damage your tow vehicle. Notice how much the back of the tow vehicle rises when you drive on the ramps? Put something under the back end of the trailer frame. This wont allow the full weight of the car to potentially pop the trailer off the hitch. Use a piece of wood on end, like a 4x4 or 6x6. Might have to stack a few pieces together. Allow for the trailer springs to compress some, dont get the wood pieces stuck under the trailer with the full weight of the car on it, if you do, strap the car down and pull the trailer off the "braces", no big deal.

Oh yeah, take more straps than you think you'll need. I have five 5000#, 14' long ratchet straps with me all the time. I use four to hold the car and one spare. I cross strap and cross front to back. LR strap attached to the frame is attached to the RF "D" ring on the trailer, etc.

The Uhaul rig might come with webbed tire straps. They may work fine, but depending on the car they might not fit over the tires.

dodosmike

EDIT: Depending on the car and road conditions I've seen a few people on the forum get some pallet wrapping, (that clear stuff you see wrapped around boxes/bags of stuff on shipping skids) and wrap the car in a bunch of layers. Helps protect the paint and windshield from stones and road debris. I guess it really depends on the car, Parts car, no worries, a nice driver, it might be worth it.

 

Dodosmike - thanks… I have a tarp (and a soft mattress pad) that I plan on covering the tops & windows with just for rain… but was curious what people do for flying rocks etc.. now I need to look into getting some pallet wrapping plastic wrap.

I am renting a u-haul trailer… and have watched this video. http://www.uhaul.com/Articles/Tips/3...aul-car-hauler

I don't understand you… could you elaborate on where you would use those straps?

 

https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...l-trailer.html
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...with-pics.html

Light reading.

Visualize an "X" under the car:



I dont know if the uhaul rig will have D rings or not.

dodosmike

EDIT:

 

Got it... thanks for the reading.

 

This is baaad. MMMmmmk?

 

OH MY! in all my reading u-haul says lay off the gas if you start feeling that sway...

Looked like an SUV (Mercedes maybe) pulling that trailer. I will have a '13 Dodge Ram 1500.

 

I've used a few 2X4s under the rear wheels of the tow vehicle. Raises front of trailer while lowering rear of trailer smoothing out the angle at the top of the ramps, the place where there are usually clearance problems.
Don't put any loose fitting covers on the car, they flap in the wind and beat the paint up.
Watch where you drive and you shouldn't need to worry about flying rocks.
The U haul trailer will have front tire straps and in the rear I've looped a strap around the collapsible impact tubes between the rear bumper and body and criss crossed them to the tie downs on the trailer.
Good luck!